At the 67th Annual Grammy Awards, Nigerian singer Temilade Openiyi, popularly known as Tems, made history by winning the Best African Music Performance category.
The prestigious award, introduced in 2024 to recognize outstanding African music recordings, was a testament to Tems’ growing influence on the global music scene.
Her award-winning track, Love Me JeJe, was a standout from her debut album, Born in the Wild, which gained international acclaim.
Released in April 2024, the song quickly became a fan favorite, blending soulful melodies with Afrobeat rhythms.
The track’s success was amplified by Tems’ electrifying performance at Coachella, where she first unveiled it to a global audience.
This marks Tems’ second Grammy win, solidifying her position as one of Nigeria’s most successful international artists. She previously won Best Melodic Rap Performance in 2023 for her contribution to Future’s Wait for U.
With this latest win, Tems becomes the first Nigerian female artist to secure multiple Grammy Awards, further cementing her place in the history of African music.
In her heartfelt acceptance speech, Tems dedicated the award to African artists striving to make their mark globally.
She thanked her fans, her team, and the Recording Academy for recognizing her work, emphasizing that African music is here to stay.
Tems joins a growing list of celebrated African musicians who have been recognized at the Grammys.
Beninese legend Angélique Kidjo and South Africa’s Ladysmith Black Mambazo have each won five Grammy awards, while the Soweto Gospel Choir has claimed two.
Nigerian stars Wizkid and Burna Boy, as well as South African singer Tyla, have also been Grammy recipients.
Her victory reflects the increasing global acceptance of African music and signals a promising future for artists from the continent.
As the industry continues to embrace diverse sounds, Tems’ win serves as both a personal triumph and a milestone for African music on the world stage.